Dear Campus Community,
Welcome to the 8th week of fall term, I know it's been an extraordinarily busy time on campus. It has been for the Board of Trustees as well. We participated in the October 9 public meeting of Oregon's Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), where PSU's new mission statement was approved:
Let Knowledge Serve the City
Portland State University, Oregon’s most diverse and only urban public research university was founded in 1946 to serve veterans returning from World War II.
PSU provides access to a top-tier education as a key driver of economic and social mobility, a source of growth for the diverse communities in the region, and a catalyst for social progress. And this isn't just what we do – it’s who we are.
Much has changed in our world since 1946, and our communities face profound challenges. With Our Future in Focus, we express our unwavering purpose: to support learners to follow their dreams and achieve their goals for a better life for their families and communities.
As we remember our institutional founding with pride, we embrace our future as an urban minority-serving research institution, inspiring each other to create new opportunities for our region and our world.
That statement anchors our new strategic plan, Future in Focus, which we've been focusing on launching while we also oversee the university's path toward financial sustainability.
This Thursday, Nov. 21, we are holding a special full board meeting to discuss the Academic Profile and Financial Profile which are documents that are used to educate and inform Board members, administrators, and the broader campus community. I invite you all to take time to review these documents as they provide a snapshot of the current academic performance and financial health of the university. We will also hear a presentation about Bridge to the Future, our financial sustainability plan, highlighting the approaches the campus is taking to address the $18 million Education and General Fund deficit this year.
While the work that the campus is undertaking this year is challenging, we must maintain focus on our current and future students. Our highest priority is to better serve students by creating clear pathways for all learners who come to PSU to achieve their educational goals.
As always, the Board webpage has various resources that you may find helpful, including the yearly calendar, meeting notices, meeting recordings, and other information. Feel free to utilize the Board feedback form, also on the webpage, where you can share meeting feedback, general comments, or recommendations on characteristics or candidates we should consider when we have a trustee vacancy.
Benjamin Berry
Board of Trustees Chair
If you want to invite the Board of Trustees to a campus event, email trustees@pdx.edu
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